Swab regulator



Oct. 5 1926.

E. J. BROBERG SWAB REGULATOR Filed May 15,

Patented Oct. 5, 1926.

UNITED STATES EARL JOHN BROBERG, OF GOFFEYVILLE, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR TO ROBINSON PAOKER COMPANY, TULSA, OKLAHOMA, A CORPORATION OF OKLAHOMA.

SWAB REGULATOR.

Application filed May 15,

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in swab regulators, theobject being to provide a regulator which can be readily attached to any of the well known forms of swabs now in use having an inlet and a discharge valve mounted as a unit and so constructed that the valves are free to work independently and in such a manner that all danger of thevalves sticking in any way is prevented.

Another and further object of the invention is to provide a swab regulator with a discharge valve so mounted andsupported that the valve can be set to discharge the fluid by the swab when the weight of the fluid exceeds the capacity of the lift.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a construction which is very simple and cheap to manufacture, the parts being so mounted that. all danger of the valve failing to operate is prevented.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof defined by the appended claims.

In the drawings, 7

Figure 1 is a vertical section partly in elevation of my improved construction of swab regulator showing it attached to a swab;

.igure 2 is an inverted plan view;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the discharge valve removed; and

Figure 4: is a detail section of the adjusting nut showing the manner of locking the same.

In carrying out my invention I employ a cylindrical body 1 having a hexagon shaped upper end 2' for accommodating a wrench for turning the same in attaching and detaching the same to a swab, said hexagon portion terminating in a neck 3 which is internally and externally threaded as clearly shown so as to allow the same to be attached to various sizes and designs of swab 4. A portion of the swab is shown in dotted lines though the particular construction of swab forms no part of this invention, .as my. improved construction of regulator is capable of being used with various designs of swabs.

The cylindrical body 1 of the swab is provided with a cylindrical bore 5 which terminates in a shoulder reduced portion, said shoulder having a flat fore the discharge *erably numerals 100, 150, 200 and 5250 are 6 formed by an annular 1923. Serial No. 639,111.

under face forming a valve seat for the discharge valve, aswill be hereinafter fully described.

The lower end of the bore 5 is threaded as shown at 7 and is adapted to receive a split nut 8 having a hexagon shaped opening to, receive a wrench. The walls of the nut at the split portion are provided with semiconical sockets forming a conical socket to receive a conical nut 9 into which extends a bolt 10, the faces of the conical nut and socket being formed on different angles so, that when the nut is drawn down into the socket by the bolt, the split nut will be expanded so as to lock the same in its adjusted position.

Arranged within the bore f the body on the nut 8 is a coil spring 11 on which is mounted a discharge valve 12 comprising a ring portion having a flat upper edge adapted to seat against the fiat under face of the shoulder 6. The ring is provided with an annularly reduced portion 13 forming a valve seat for the inlet valve 14.

The ring is provided with marginal vertically disposed guide flanges 15, one pair of which is connected together by a cross bar 16 provided with a hubportion 17 in which is slidably mounted the stem 18 of the inlet valve 14, the upward movement of which is limited by a nut 19 carried by the lower end thereof. 7 V

The annular reduced portion 13 has its face flush with the inner face of the annular shoulder 6 so as to allow the inlet valve 14 to move up by the shoulder when the regulator is lowered into the well and as the pressure of the fluid is on the under side of the valve, the valve is lifted so as to allow free passage of fluid through the regulator and the. swab. As the regulator is drawn upwardly, the pressure of the fluid closes the intake valve and as the discharge valve is held on its seat, by the pressure of the spring, the fluid above the valves is raised in theusual manner. v

The cylindrical body is provided with openings QO'adjaccnt the nut 8 to each side 7 of which are arranged numerals designating the weight of fluid the spring will resist bev'alve is opened and pref- If, in the operation of the swab, the-numb r of feet of fluid above the regulator is in excess of the predetermined tension of the spring applied on the discharge valve, the di charge valve will automatically open and allow the fluid to pass through the lower end of the body until the pressure of the spring causes the valve to seat again whereby the fluid above the swab will not be in excess of the capacity of the lift, as when in excess, the valve automatically opens and discharges the fluid. By adjusting the nut 8 within the body of the regulator, the tension of the spring can be increased or decreased so to predeterminedly set the discharge valve to discharge the fluid when the fluid above the swab exceedsthe capacity of the lift.

1 am aware that prior to my invention devices of this kind have been used with swabs, but these devices have been so constructed that they fail to a'ccomplishthe desired result under the conditions existing in use in connection with wells, While with my improved construction, the discharge valve is guided within the body of the regulator in its up and down movement so as to prevent the same from failing to properly seat itself. The particular manner of mounting the inlet valve within the discharge valve provides means for allowing the inlet valve to work freely and to properly seat itself under all conditions. In connection with this I have provided additional means for locking the adjusting nut for changing the tension of the spring on the discharge valve which provide-s novelv means for accomplishing this result.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a swab regulator in which the inlet and discharge valves are so mounted that they work freely independent of each other, the inlet valve being carried by the discharge valve and guided in its vertical movement while the discharge valve is mounted on a spring within the body of the swab and guided in its movement so as to allow the same to seat properly.

What I claim is 1. A swab regulator comprising a body having a hexagon shaped upper end provided with an internally and externally threaded neck portion, said body portion bein provided with a bore terminating in an annular reduced portion forming a shoulder with a flat under face to provide a v lve seat, a dischargevalve comprising a r-- g portion having aflat upper edge adapted to coact with said seat, said ring having an annular reduced inner edge forming a flat valve seat, an inlet valve havinga flat lower edge adapted to be seated on said seat, said ring portion beingprovided with vertically disposed guide" flanges, one pair of guide flanges being connected together by a cross bar having a'hub portion, said valve being provided with a stem working in said hub portion and a spring disposed beneath said discharge valve for holding said valve on its seat.

2. The combination with a swab, of a body carried by the lower end of said swab having a cylindrical bore terminating in an annular reduced portion forming a. valve seat on its under face, a ring shaped valve arranged within said bore adapted to cooperate with said seat, said valve having an annular reduced portion forming a valve seat, an inlet va-lve mounted on said seat movable with and independent of said discharge valve, said discharge valve being providedwith vertical guide flanges engaging the walls of said bore for guiding said discharge valve in its vertical movement, one pair of guide flanges being connected by a cross bar provided with a hub portion, a stem carried by the inlet valve working in said hub portion, means carried by said stem for limiting the movement of said inlet valve, a spring disposed under said discharge valve and a nut adjustably mounted in said body for adjusting the tension of said spring.

3. A swab regulator comprising a cylindrical body having a hexagon shaped upper portion terminating in a neck portion provided with internal and external threads, said body being provided with a cylindrical bore terminating in its upper end in an annular reduced portion forming a'shoulder having'a flat under face to provide a valve seat, a discharge valve comprisig a ring portion having a fiat upper edge adapted to coact with said seat, said ringportion being annularly recessed to provide a flat valve seat, the marginal portion of said ring being provided with vertical guide flanges coacting with the wall of said bore for guiding said discharge valve in its vertical movement, two of said guide flanges being connected together by a. cross bar having a hub portion, an intake valve mounted in said recessed portion and having a valve stem working in said hub portion, a nut carried by said valve stem for limiting the movement of said intake valve, a coil spring disposed beneath said discharge valve for holding said valve to its seat, a split nut working in said bore and means for expanding said nut for locking said nut in adjusted position.

I at. A swab regulator comprising abodyhaving a cylindrical bore terminating inan annular reduced portion to provide an annular shoulder having a fiat under face forming a valve seat, a. discharge valve in the form of aring having its innerwall annularly recessed to provide a valve seat, said ring being provided with vertically disposed guide flanges for guiding said valve in its up and down movement within said be-re, inlet valve mennted ithin'the recess of said ring, a spring disposed Within said bore for holding said discharge valve on its seat, said bore being provided .With an internally threaded lower end, a split nut Working in said end, the abutting ends of said ring being provided with recesses, a conical nut arranged Within said recesses and a bolt Working in said nut for expanding said ring for locking said ring in its adjusted position Within said bore;

5. A swab regulator comprising a cylindrical body having a hexagon shaped portion terminating in a threaded neck, said body being provided With a cylindrical bore terminating at its lower end in an internally threaded portion, the upper end of said bore terminating in an annular reduced portion forming a shoulder having a flat under face to provide a valve seat, a discharge valve formed of a ring having a flat upper edge adapted to cooperate With said seat, said ring being annularly reduced to form a valve seat, an inlet valve having a flat under face seated in the last mentioned seat, said discharge valve having guide flanges cooperating with the Walls of said bore, a valve stem carried by the inlet valve, means carried by the'discharge, valve for guiding said valve stem, a coil spring disposed Within said bore under said discharge valve for normally holding said valve on its seat, a

split nut Working in the threaded portion.

of said bore for adjusting the tension of said spring and means for expanding said nut for locking said nut in its adjusted position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

EARL JOHN BROBERG. 

